Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) has issued the request for proposals (RFP) for the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract for two greenfield sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Al-Wathba in Abu Dhabi and Al-Saad in Al-Ain. The tender, with a closing date of 31 January, was originally to include the acquisition of two existing plants at Mafraq in Abu Dhabi and Zakher in Al-Ain, but the client removed them from the scheme to make it more attractive to bidders (MEED 8:9:06).

The potential bidders include: Degremont with Suez Environnement, both France-based; Veolia Environnement, also of France; a Spanish group including Aqualia and Inima; Japan?s Marubeni Corporation with Germany?s Berliner Wasser Betriebe; Australia?s Transfield Services; the UK?s Biwater with Kuwait?s Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons; Singapore?s Keppel Corporation; France?s Saur International; Australia?s United Group with US-based Black & Veatch; Greece's Elliniki Technodomiki; and Germany?s Siemens Water.

The successful bidder will take a 40 per cent stake in a new project company, which will sign 25-year agreements with the government. The remaining 60 per cent will be held indirectly by ADWEA.

Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) is also planning to tender the operations and maintenance (O&M) of its network. ADSSC will transfer its functions to the successful bidder, but will continue to own the hard assets of the sewerage network and the provision of management services under a 10-year contract.